Radio, TV shifts

Word this morning that long-time Channel 10 news anchor Gene Valicenti is set to take over talk radio station WPRO's morning news program - to be called the "WPRO Morning News with Gene Valicenti" - on Monday.

Valicenti will remain on air at Channel 10.

WPRO says Tara Granahan, who has co-hosted the radio station's morning news show until now, will become assistant program director. Andrew Gobeil, who co-hosted with Granahan, has been let go.

Meanwhile, Channel 10 general manager Vic Vetters tells me a couple of new reporters will start work at the station at the end of the month. Scott MacKay, over at Rhode Island Public Radio, reports that Burlington, Vermont reporter Susie Stiemle will fill one of the slots.

Vetters says the new reporters will free up veterans like Jim Taricani to pursue more enterprise and investigative work. That kind of original, impact reporting is becoming increasingly important as local TV news loses its grip on breaking news.

(Note: this post has been updated with confirmation that Valicenti will remain on air at Channel 10 and that Gobeil has been let go by WPRO)